With a reputation often linked to crime and urban decay, the south London town of Croydon seems an unlikely destination for Tinseltown's elite. Frequently appearing on lists of Britain's least desirable areas, it has been described by locals as 'an absolute toilet' and labelled by a former Met Police officer as one of the country's most dangerous zones, plagued by knife crime. Yet, this infamy has done nothing to deter Hollywood's biggest producers, who are increasingly drawn to its gritty, versatile streets.
From Crime-Ridden Streets to Silver Screen
Despite its tough reputation, Croydon has provided the backdrop for a stunning array of major films. Matt Damon, Tom Hanks, Brad Pitt, and Idris Elba have all been spotted on sets around the town. Blockbusters including Jason Bourne, The Da Vinci Code, and Batman: The Dark Knight Rises have utilised its urban landscape. The area's adaptability is key; sections have convincingly doubled for Cold War Berlin, Istanbul, New York, and even Gotham City.
The trend shows no sign of slowing. Amazon MGM's action film Heads of State, starring Idris Elba and John Cena, filmed there recently. In a notable coup, Taylor Swift reportedly flew 3,500 miles by private jet to secretly shoot a music video in the partially derelict Whitgift shopping centre. Furthermore, Andrew Haigh's acclaimed 2023 film All of Us Strangers, featuring Paul Mescal, was both set and filmed in Croydon, hailed as a 'real love letter' to the town.
The Economic Impact and 'Little Manhattan'
The influx of film crews is providing a significant financial boost. According to estimates reported by Bloomberg, the filming activity has injected nearly £5 million into Croydon's local economy. FilmFixer, a London-based TV locations specialist, manages filming permissions for the council and helps facilitate these projects.
Sian Green, FilmFixer's marketing manager, praised Croydon's versatility. 'Croydon is a versatile borough and one that we're proud to work with,' she told the Daily Mail. 'The dynamic skyline is often a real draw; filmmakers are able to replicate an inner city feel outside of central London.' This skyline, a product of a building boom from the 1950s to 1970s, has earned Croydon the nickname 'Little Manhattan'.
Paige Neilson, film service manager at the Croydon Film Office, highlighted this unique appeal to Bloomberg: 'You can at one moment be in a street in New York and then go down the road and be in a quaint English village.'
Beyond the Big Screen: TV, Ads, and Cultural Impact
Croydon's reach extends far beyond Hollywood movies. The town has featured in advertisements for major brands like O2, H&M, and Lucozade. On television, it served as the backdrop for Channel 4's Adult Material and, most famously, was the spiritual home of the hit comedy Peep Show.
In Peep Show, the main characters lived in a fictional tower block in the town. Co-writer Sam Bain explained to The Guardian that Croydon perfectly matched their vision: 'It was the Croydon of the mind we were going for. You would like to live in Notting Hill, but you're living in Croydon and having to deal with that.' This cultural footprint stretches back to the late 70s sitcom Terry and June, which was also set in suburban Croydon.
FilmFixer is also committed to community benefits, running a free Set Ready training programme for local residents to help them start careers behind the camera. As Sian Green told The Times, she has a 'soft spot' for Croydon as an 'underdog', noting its rare mixture of parks, green spaces, and high-rise buildings. This unlikely combination has transformed a borough once synonymous with urban struggle into a globally recognised filming destination.
